Training cartridge

ABSTRACT

A non-lethal cartridge comprising a primary charge, a secondary charge and a projectile which consists of a B-B ball shot encased in a plastic carrier. A shielded detonating cord extends axially between the cartridge&#39;&#39;s primer and the primary charge which is located in the base of the carrier. When the primer is initiated, the primary charge is ignited through the cord to drive the carrier and the B-B through the muzzle of a firearm. Vents in the carrier initiates the ignition of the secondary charge to generate sufficient gas pressure to cycle the firearm.

Unite States Patent 1 Grandy TRAINING CARTRIDGE [75] Inventor: Andrew J.Grandy, North Hills, Pa.

[73] Assignee: The United Stats of America as represented by theSecretary of the Army, Washington, D.C.

22 Filed: -Nov.16,1971

211 Appl. No.: 199,201

{52] US. Cl. 102/41, 102/92.7 [51] Int. Cl. F42b 5/22, F42b 13/20 [58]Field of Search 102/41, 92.7

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 10/1888 Hurst 102/41 2/1969Snyder et al 102/92.7

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Great Britain l02/92.7

[451 July 17, 1973 .Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. Borchelt AssistantExaminer-C. T. Jordan A ttorneyflarry M. Saragovitz, Edward Kelly andHerbert Berl [57] ABSTRACT A non-lethal cartridge comprising a primarycharge, a secondary charge and a projectile which consists of a 8-8 ballshot encased in a plastic carrier. A shielded detonating cord extendsaxially between the cartridge s primer and the primary charge which islocated in the base of the carrier. When the primer is initiated, the

primary charge is ignited through the cord to drive the carrier and theB-B through the muzzle of a firearm. Vents in the carrier initiates theignition of the secondary charge to generate sufficient gas pressure tocycle the firearm.

4 Claims, 1 Drawing Figure PATENIED JUL T 3. 745 923 INVENTOR) fine/readJ Gran a'y :15 mi BY mziwm ATTORNEYS TRAINING CARTRIDGE The inventiondescribed herein may be manufactured, used, and licensed by or for theGovernment for governmental purposes without the payment to me of anyroyalty thereon.

This invention relates to a training cartridge and more particularly toa non-lethal cartridge for rifle firing in target practice.

Training cartridges should be non-lethal at a range of 200 feet andsufficiently accurate to hit a man-size silhouette target at 200 feet.It should be capable of imparting sufficient energy to actuate anelectronic type target also at 200 feet. Further, it must be capable offiring in single, semi-automatic and automatic modes. Trainingcartridges presently used do not meet these requirements.

The present invention provides a cartridge to meet all the aboverequirements, and is capable of generating sufficient gas pressure tocycle the firearm as necessary. Briefly the invention is basically adouble impulse type cartridge that contains two separate and distinctcharges. The primer and cartridge case are standard components. Thesecondary charge will generate the gas pressure required for firearmcycling, such as in a rifle. The projectile consists of a steel B-B ballshot encased in a plastic carrier crimped to the cartridge case mouth.The carrier contains a primary propellant charge in a cavity in itsbase. A length of low energy detonating cord extends from the primer tothe cavity in the carrier which is vented to permit flash-back of theprimary charge into the secondary charge. In operation the primerignites the cord which ignites the primary charge and propells thecarrier and the 8-8 down the barrel of the firearm. Flash-back of theprimary charge ignites the secondary charge which generates enoughpressure to operate the firearms cycling, after the projectile has beenpropelled from the firearms muzzle. The carrier acts as an obturator.The secondary charge will evacuate all barrel residue as well asrecycling of the firearm. I

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a training cartridgecontaining two separate and distinct charges, one for propelling theprojectile therefrom and one for generating sufficient gas pressure tocycle the firearm.

Another object is to provide a cartridge projectile consisting of asteel B-B encased in a plastic carrier.

A further object is to prvide means to first ignite a propellant chargein the carrier, then the secondary charge after the projectile has beenpropelled from the muzzle of the fireann.

A still further object is to provide a non-lethal training cartridgeefi'ective at a range of 200 feet.

These and other objects and advantages will become apparent from thefollowing description when taken in connection with the annexed drawing.

The single FIGURE in the drawing illustrates an axial section takenthrough the cartridge of this invention.

Referring now in detail to the drawing wherein reference character 1indicates generally the cartridge of this invention. Cartridge 1includes a case 2 and a primer 3 of the percussion type, common to mostfirearm cartridges. Cartridge is provided with a projectile indicatedgenerally by 4. Projectile 4 comprises a steel B-B ball 5 which isencased in a carrier 6 made of a plastic material. Carrier 6 is crimpedto the mouth of case 2 as at 7 and is provided with a cavity 8 disposedcentrally in its base and contains a primary charge 9. Cavity 8 isflared as at 10 for a purpose to be later described. A detonating cord11 extends axially between primer 3 and charge 9 and is shielded by atube 12 as shown. A secondary charge 13 fills: the remaining space inthe case 2. A baffle 14 at the rearward end of car tridge case 2completes the assembly of the cartridge.

In operation, when primer 3 is struck by the firing pin of a firearm,detonating cord 11 is ignited which in turn, ignites primary charge 9 todrive carrier 6 and 8-3 5 down the barrel of the fireann, not shown. Thecarrier acts to obturate the barrel during its travel therethrough whileignition of charge 9 effects a backward flash due to the flared portionof cavity 8 and ignites secondary charge 13. This secondary charge willgenerate sufficient gas pressure during the obturating phase of theprojectile s travel to operate cycling of the firearm for the nextround. Immediately thereafter it will act to scavenge the barrel of anyburnt residue as the carrier and 8-8 are projected from the gun.

While a preferred form of the invention has been shown and described,other forms of the invention are contemplated and numerous changes andmodifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A double impulse training cartridge for use in a conventional firearmcomprising a cartridge case, a primer in the base of the case, aprojectile secured in the forward end of the cartridge case, saidprojectile having a rearwardly facing axial cavity, a primary propellantcharge disposed in the rearwardly facing cavity, a detonating tubeextending from the primer axially through the cartridge case and intothe projectile cavity, and a secondary scavenging and firearm recyclingcharge disposed in the cartridge case exteriorly of the detonating tube,the outer diameter of the forward end of the detonating tube beingsubstantially less than the inner diameter of the surrounding projectilecavity so that a vent conduit is provided between the projectile cavityand the interior of the cartridge case exteriorly of the detonating tubefor the passage of a flashback from the primary charge to ignite thesecondary charge after ignition of the primary charge by the detonatingtube and primer.

2. The cartridge of claim 1 in which the projectile comprises a carrierof lightweight material, and a B-B ball shot encased in the forward endof the carrier.

3. The cartridge of claim 1 in which the detonating tube comprises adetonating cord, and a shielding tube encasing the cord.

4. In combination with a cartridge including a case, a primer in thebase of the case, a projectile secured in the forward end of the caseand having a rearwardly facing cavity, a double impulse explosive trainin said cartridge comprising a propellant charge disposed in saidprojectile cavity, a scavenging charge in the case, and a shieldeddetonating tube extending from the primer through the case and into saidprojectile cavity, the outer diameter of the forward end of the shieldeddetonating tube being substantially less than the inner diameter of thesurrounding projectile cavity so that a vent conduit is provided betweenthe projectile cavity and the interior of the cartridge case exteriorlyof the detonating tube for the passage of a flashback from the primarycharge to ignite the secondary charge immediately after ignition of theprimary charge by the detonating tube and primer.

I i i 1

1. A double impulse training cartridge for use in a conventional firearmcomprising a cartridge case, a primer in the base of the case, aprojectile secured in the forward end of the cartridge case, saidprojectile having a rearwardly facing axial cavity, a primary propellantcharge disposed in the rearwardly facing cavity, a detonating tubeextending from the primer axially through the cartridge case and intothe projectile cavity, and a secondary scavenging and firearm recyclingcharge disposed in the cartridge case exteriorly of the detonating tube,the outer diameter of the forward end of the detonating tube beingsubstantially less than the inner diameter of the surrounding projectilecavity so that a vent conduit is provided between the projectile cavityand the interior of the cartridge case exteriorly of the detonating tubefor the passage of a flashback from the primary charge to ignite thesecondary charge after ignition of the primary charge by the detonatingtube and primer.
 2. The cartridge of claim 1 in which the projectilecomprises a carrier of lightweight material, and a B-B ball shot encasedin the forward end of the carrier.
 3. The cartridge of claim 1 in whichthe detonating tube comprises a detonating cord, and a shielding tubeencasing the cord.
 4. In combination with a cartridge including a case,a primer in the base of the case, a projectile secured in the forwardend of the case and having a rearwardly facing cavity, a double impulseexplosive train in said cartridge comprising a propellant chargedisposed in said projectile cavity, a scavenging charge in the case, anda shielded detonating tube extending from the primer through the caseand into said projectile cavity, the outer diameter of the forward endof the shielded detonating tube being substantially less than the innerdiameter of the surrounding projectile cavity so that a vent conduit isprovided between the projectile cavity and the interior of the cartridgecase exteriorly of the detonating tube for the passage of a flashbackfrom the primary chArge to ignite the secondary charge immediately afterignition of the primary charge by the detonating tube and primer.